Javier Milei Fulfills His Campaign Promise and Cuts the Number of Ministries in Argentina by Half

After years of political turmoil and economic instability, Argentina has ushered in a new era with the inauguration of President Javier Milei. In a bold move just hours after taking office, Milei signed a decree to reduce the number of ministries in the country from 18 to 9, fulfilling one of his key campaign promises

The decree, signed at the Argentinean Congress building in front of a crowd of supporters, marks a significant step towards a smaller and more efficient government. With the elimination of redundancies and the consolidation of ministries, President Milei aims to create a more streamlined and agile administration that can better serve the needs of the people.

The newly appointed ministries include security, justice, economy, foreign affairs, interior, health, and defense. Notably, former Argentine Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, has been named as the head of the security ministry, while former Minister of Finance, Luis Caputo, will lead the economy ministry.

This change will not only affect the aforementioned ministries, but will unite several portfolios into one, such as Transportation, Public Works, Mining, Energy and Communications, and others such as Social Development, Health, Labor and Education. Likewise, the Ministry of Culture will become a Secretariat, although it is still unknown whether it will be under the Chief of Staff or the General Secretariat of the Presidency.

This move has been met with both praise and criticism from the public. Supporters of Milei’s policies see this as a crucial step towards a more functional government that can effectively address the country’s pressing issues. They believe that reducing the number of ministries will result in cost savings, better resource allocation, and ultimately, a more productive government.

However, there are concerns about potential job losses and the effects of consolidating ministries. President Milei has reassured the public that no jobs will be lost in the process, but rather a restructuring of resources to promote more efficient operations. Additionally, some have expressed doubts about how this new structure will affect the government’s ability to address complex and diverse issues.

The changes in government structure also reflect Milei’s unorthodox approach to politics. Unlike traditional politicians, he relies heavily on his background as a libertarian economist to guide his decision-making. His philosophy of “less is more” has resonated with many Argentinians, who are tired of the corruption and dysfunction that has plagued the country’s government for decades.

As s Argentina looks towards a new era of governance, all eyes will be on Milei and his administration to see if his vision of a smaller and more functional government will bring about the much-needed change that the country desperately needs.